Dominionville Orphan Support Program – Klerksdorp, South Africa

Volunteers and church committee members with some of the children in front of an outstation church that provides shelter to the children.
Volunteers and church committee members with some of the children in front of an outstation church that provides shelter to the children.
Some of the orphans that are heading for primary school are seen here watching their friends dancing in steps helped by caregivers.
Some of the orphans that are heading for primary school are seen here watching their friends dancing in steps helped by caregivers.

We have begun a partnership with the Kriste Motsogi Roman Catholic Church in the rural diocese of Klerksdorp, South Africa. In 2013 an economic crisis hit this area when area mines had closed resulting in large numbers of unemployed local citizens, as well as immigrant workers. This combined with a prevalence of untreated chronic diseases created desperate situations. Some children became orphans when parents could no longer care for them because of sickness, death, or had moved on leaving them behind. Immigrants left unemployed do not qualify for any government assistance, so many have given up their children to the orphanages because they cannot properly care for them.

Dec 8th, 2018 Orphans, and other children settled for the start of the Christmas get together.
Dec 8th, 2018 Orphans, and other children settled for the start of the Christmas get together.

This parish formed a Committee to reach out to the local communities to generate support for the children, and internationally to generate the much needed support for these identified orphaned children, as well as other children in dire need in their region.

Currently, they are serving 50+ children ages 2 – 5 years who are not able to be enrolled in any government pre-school program. They are cared for by volunteers who provide good care, some education and recreation, and food. This program is in need of food, as well as recreational and learning aids. The cost to provide nourishing meals, recreational items, and learning aids for one child for one month is $40.00 US., $1.33 per day…..

Father Joseph with 3 youths arrived at Dominionville Orphanage with toys and clothing for orphans
Father Joseph with 3 youths arrived at Dominionville Orphanage with toys and clothing for orphans

They are also serving 30+ orphaned children ages 6 – 17 years who need school supplies, clothing, bus fare, and box lunch to be able to go to public school. The cost to provide educational fees and supplies for these children is $30.00 for one month for one orphaned child……that’s only $1.00 per day…

S.O.N.G. provides a Christmas Meal & Party every year, with special gifts for the orphaned children at the Dominionville Orphan Support Program.